Automatic controller for flying-machines.



W. W. SWAN.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER FOR FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1914.

1,150,903. Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

g T WITNESESS Q INVENTUR I #25 W F m. Mm ZI/JWW- W. W. SWAN.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER FOR FLYING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 11.1914.

1 ,150,903. Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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INVENTDR znzzw Z M WITNESESS WILLIAM w. swan, or FnA'NKFoR'r, SOUTHDAKOTA.-

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER son FLYING-MACHINES.

T all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. SWAN, a

citizen of the United v States, and a resident of Frankfort, in thecounty of, Spink and .State of South 'Dakota,' have' made certain newand usefullmprovements in Automatic Controllers for Flying-Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements for automatically controllingflying machines, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, andarrangements herein 1 described and claimed.

An object of my invention is. to provide means by whichthe movement offlying machines may be so controlled as to renderthem stable and lessliable to. overbalance.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel stabilizing meansin"which wing warping, and the movements of steer ing and balancingplanes areaccomplished by power transmitted by drums actuated byfrictional controlling means.

A further object of, myinvention is to provide means which may be set tocause the machine to rise to a predetermined height, and,tothereaftenmaintain a course substantially in a horizontal direction atthe set altitude. 3O

A further object of my invention is .to provide means which may be soset as to cause the flying machine .to proceed in a given direction, thedirection being;- controlled automatically.

Other objects and advantages willappea'r in the following specification,and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accomp'anying drawings forming partof-this application, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of'the device,Fig. 2 is a side view, Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a.portion of the device, and Fig. 4: is a diagrammatic View showing aflying machine with the stabilizing means applied thereto. y

In carrying out my invention I provide a base 1, upon which are mounteduprights 2,

having attheir tops bearings 3, preferably of the anti-friction type asshown in Fig. 3,

for a shaft This shaft as will be seen from Fig 3, is preferably made upof a number of sections joined together by means of unions 5. This ismerely for convenience used ins-tead.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentgd Aug, 19%15, Application iiledMay 11; 19M. Serial No. 837,909. I i

in assembling, and a single shaft may be Secured to the shaft are disks6, which are designed to revolve with the shaft. The 1 shaft 18 providedwith self-lubricating bearing members or bushings, such as that shown at7, in Fig. 3. Disposed onthe outside of 1 the bushings are tubularportions 8, bear-- ing heads 9, these heads being in the form of disks,whose planes are at right angles to the shaft. -Disp0sed exteriorly ofthe tubular portions 8, are tubular portions 10, having heads 11,provided with flanges 11*,

which extend over the ends of the heads 9,

thereby forming an annular receptacle between the heads 9 andllQ Theheads 9 and.

11 are prevented from relative rotation by means of a feather key 12,which is disposed in one of the tubular portions such as that shown at8, the other tubular portion being provided with a groove so as topermit longitudinal motion of the tubular portion -10,

' with respect to the tubular portion 8.

Disposed exteriorly ofthe tubular portions 10, aredrumsl3, which aredesigned to revolve onl the tubular portions 10, and which are providedwith radially'extending heads 13 faced with frictional linings 14,arranged to engage the central disk 6, as shown in Fig. 3. These drumsare provided with grooves 13", arranged to receive flexible cables 15.;I Carried by the heads 9, aretubes 17, which hear at their endsreceptacles 18, hav ing means such as screw plugs 19 for varying thecapacity of the receptacle. These ricep tacles are partly filledwithmercury 20, and communicate with' the interior of the space between theheads 9 and '11. This space is provided with an air-tight resilientlining 21'either of rubber or thin corrugated metal, or the like. i

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, I have'showntherein aplurality of magnets, which Ihave denoted by the reference characters22, 23, 24 and 25 respectively. These may be either single magnets, ordouble magnets as shown in Fig. 2.; Each magnet is .provided with anarmature, and the armatures of the oppositely disposed magnets areconnected together. Thus in Fig. 2 it will be seen that the armature 23vof the magnet 23, is connected with the armature 25 of the magnet 25,by'means of a rod 26, which is sli'dable in bearings 27. The armature 24of no Its the magnet 24 and the armature 22 of the magnet 22 areconnected together by a similar rod 28, slidable in bearings 29.

The portion of the device illustrated in Fig. 3, shows that there aretwo hydrostatic presses, each provided with a laterally extending tubewhich serves to supply pressure for moving the drums into frictionalcontact with the revolving disk 6. In Fig. 1 it will be seen that thereare four of these presses, and in order to clearly explain the .ction, Ihave designated the presses gen- -'-..erally by the referencecharacters, A, B, C

and D," respectively, and their connecting tubes by a, b, canddrespectively. It will be noted that the tubes a and d extendlongitudinally of the machine as shown in Fig. 4,

. while the tubes 6 and 0 extend laterally.

As will be seen from Fig. 2, the armature 23 of the magnet 23 isconnected with a piston 30, which extends partly into the interior ofthe press A. The armature 25' of the magnet 25, has a piston 31, whichex"- tends into the interior of the press D. In Fig. 1 it will be seenthat the rod 28 is provided with two pistons 32 and 33 respectively, theformer extending into the press B, and the latter extending into thepress C.

The operation of the parts thus far described is as follows: Thechambers 18 of the various tubes are designed to inclose a quantity ofair sufficient to balance atmospheric pressure, and also to permitcontraction and expansion from altitude and tem perature without causingexcessive normal pressure in the press, and in addition it provides areservoir of liquid to compensatefor Wear between the friction surfaces.The shaft 4 is designed to be rotated by any suitable means as by apulley 34 and suitable connections to the engine of. the flying machine(not shown).

The cables 15, are such as are ordinarily used to transmit energy forWing warping and manipulating ailerons and elevating and steeringplanes. I have not illustrated the connections of these cables, sincethe stabilizing device may be used on machines of any type, in which thesteering planes and ailerons or wing warping devices are suitablyconnected to it.

i .VVhen the device is in its normal horizontal-position with the shaft4 revolving, it be obvious that the pressure which t ends to hold theheads 13 of the drums 13,

T against the friction disks 6, will be alike in f each drum andpractically zero.

If, how- Fig.4, the hydrostatic pressure in the press Q would increasesimultaneouslv and in proportion with the elevation of. the outer end'ofc. tending to cause a movement of the 8 portion 11". the integralportion 10 tending to slide toward the disk 6, carrying with it controllongitudinal stability.

tube 6, a reverse effect is produced in like manner through the press B,and the adjacent drum connected with the same mechanism reversely.Similarly, the presses A and D, with their oppositely fore-and-aftextending tubes (1 and d, and their corresponding drums and linesoppositely connected with the vertical steering apparatus Thus, a tipdownwardly in front elevates the tube d actuating the press D and itscorresponding drum which is connected to give the ascending adjustmentto the elevating planes. A contrary tip produces an opposite effect uponthesame mechanism through the opposing tube a, press A, and thecorrespond ing drum and line. i

The arrangement by which the device may be set for a predeterminedelevation is shown in Fig. 1. This consists of a barome ter X, which isprovided with a rotatable transparent face having attached to its innersurface concentric conducting members,

w, y and z, with the1r under faces in the same plane. A conducting hand35, is arranged so that in ts movement it may connect the innerconductor :12 with either the conductors 2 or 7 or it may move to an'in-1 termediate position between the conductors ment of the operation ofthis automatic bara ometric regulator. To control the plane of travelautomatically, the machine may be steered by hand control to the heightde-' sired, when the cover of the barometric switch is turned until thehand 35 comes midway between the conductors z and y, and the batteryEswitched on. As long as the hand 35 is between the terminals z and y,the circuit through the control magnets is open. If from any cause theaeroplane de- 3 I scends below'the set altitude, the hand 35 moves untilit comes into contact with the conductor y. A current is now'establishedfrom the battery E through 26, m, 35, y, 37,

magnet 23. 38, 39, back to battery. This 21.

will cause the attraction'of the armature 23' and will cause themovement of the piston 31 into the press D. The drum operated by thepress D will be brought into frictional engagement with the revolvingdisk 6, and

. changed angle of the elevating plane the press A is acted upon by thestatic pressure in the arm a, and this actuates the drum controlled bythe press A in opposition to the electro-magnetic actuated drum *1), soas to bring the elevating plane back to its normal position,-when thetension on each of the drums is balanced. This-leaves the machinepropelled in a slightly ascending slant with the vertical steeringplanes in their normal position of flight. The instant the aeroplane hasascended sufliciently to cause the barometer hand carrying/the switch tomove back and open the circuit of the magnet 23, the drum controlled bythe ess D instantly looses its tension and bej/oiides inactive and theunopposed tension 11 the line of the drum controlled by the press A,brings the elevating planes into position to forcethe machine into.horizontal flight, when there is no tension on either of the op posingdrum lines. Should the aeroplane from any cause rise above the setaltitude, the indicating hand of the barometer moves into contact withthe conductor 2, in'which case the action is similar but in the reversedirection from that described.

It is obvious that the barometricswitch may be set at the ground tocarry the aeroplane to any desired altitude, where it may be maintainedautomatically. The means by which the lateral direction of the aeroplaneiscontrolled is also shown in Fig. 1. It consists of a mariners compassprovided with a magnetic -needle-actuated compass card P having a switcht mounted rotatable therewith. The compass is also provided withconductors 0-, s and n and a rotatable transparentface to which saidconductors are attached as described in the barometric switch.

If it is desired totravel in any particular directionsay eastthemachineis placed with its head in that direction by means of the usualcontrol mechanism.. The face of the compass is then rotated until theswitch It comes midway between the conducting members 8 and n, and the'battery'switched on. If for any cause the head of the machine turns tothe right of the course set, the compass card remaining stationary, theswitch will come into contact with the conductor 8, thereby establishinga current as follows: from the battery E through 26, 0, t, 8, a0, 24, 39to battery. The attractlon of left into the set course when the circuitagain opens, since the magnetic switch re mains stationary relative todirection. The abrupt action of the magnet 24 is modified the armature24 by the magnet 24, will I and graduated by the opposing force of thestatic pressure-of the elevated arm I), in the manner explained inconnection with the barometric control. The drawings show but two pairof drums and presses, but it is selfevident that more may be ,used inthis device; thus, an additional presses may be mounted in connectionwith the lateral steering rudders and the compass air of drums andswitch to ,control' direction independently of stability. A swing totheleft n like manner closes the circuit of the magnet 22, and is correctedthrough regerse action of the press B and the with. 1 s

It will be noted'that there is no movement of the liquid relative tothe' tube and press in applying pressure between the corrc: spondingdrum and rotating disk; the said pressure being exactly in unison withand proportional to the tipping of the flying machine in a specificdirection. The press acts only to multiply'the statit? pressure at theinner end of its lateral tube and transmit the increased pressurethrough the drum to parts corresponding therethe co-acting frictionalsurfaces with no lonbearing against said moving member and connectedwith the stabllizlng mechanlsm 1n such manner as to move the same, untilthe reaction balances the friction due to the pressure between the saidfrictional members; hydrostatic means responsive to tilt.- ing of theflying machine, to automatlcally vary the pressure between saidfrictional members in unison with and proportional to the said tilting,and without movement of the liquid of said hydrostatic means relatlve tothe flying machine.

2. In an automatic controller for flying machines, a revoluble shaft, afriction dlsk carried by said shaft, a drum having a portion arranged inengagement with said friction disk, cables carried by the drum, and

. hydrostatic means automatically actuated by the tilting of the machinewithout movement of the liquid within its container, for forcing thedrum against the disk with astatic pressure varying with andproportional to the degree of tilt.

3. In an automatic controller for flying machines, a revoluble shaft, africtlon d sk carried thereby, a drum disposed concen trically with saidshaft and having a portion arranged to engage said friction disk,

and a hydrostatic presshaving a portion disposed concentrically withsaid shaft and arranged to support said drum, said portion being movabletoward and away from said disk to bring the drum into or out of engagement with the disk.

4:."In an automatic controller for flying machines; a revoluble shaft, afriction disk carried thereby, a drum disposed concentrically with saidshaft and having a portion arranged to engage said friction disk, ahydrostatic press having a portion disposed concentrically with saidshaft and machines, a revoluble shaft, a friction diskcarried thereby,adrum disposed concenv trically with said shaft and having a portionarranged to engage said friction disk,

a hydrostatic press having a portion disposed concentrically with saidshaft and arranged to support said drum, said portion being movabletoward andaway from said disk to bring the drain into or out ofengagement with the disk, and means for automatically varying thepressure in the press inaccordance with the tilting'of the 'ma chine,said last means comprising a laterally extending tube communicating withthe interioa of the press, said tube containing a li ui 6. In anautomatic controller for flying machines, a revoluble shaft, a frictiondisk carriedby the shaft and'revoluble therewith, the planeof the diskbeing at right angles to the shaft, a hydrostatic press disposed on eachside of said friction disk, each i of said'hydrostatic presses having aportion movable toward and away from said disk,

a drum carried by the movable portion of each of said hydrostaticpresses, each of said drums having a'portion arranged to engage saidfriction disk, and means for automatically supplying pressure to each ofsaid hydrostatic presses dependent upon the tilting of the machine. I

said friction disk, and means for automatically increasing thehydrostatic pressure in one of said presses in proportion to the tiltingof the machine and for simultaneously decreasing the hydrostaticpressure in the other press. y Y

8. In an automatic controller for flying machines, a revoluble shaft, afriction disk carried by the shaft and revoluble therewith, the plane ofthe disk being at right angles to the shaft, a hydrostatic pressdisposed on,

each side of said friction disk, each of said hydrostatic presses havinga portion 'movable toward and away from said disk, a drum carried by themovable portion of each of said hydrostatic presses, each'of said drumshaving a portion arranged to engag I said friction disk, andmeans forautomati- ,a;

cally increasing the hydrostatic pressure in one of said presses inproportion to the tilting of the machine and for simultaneouslydecreasing the hydrostatic pressure in the other press, said meanscomprising a tube carried by each press and communicating with theinterior thereof, each ofsaid tubes being filled with a liquid, said{tubes extending in opposite directions.

9. In-an automatic. controller for flying machines, a revoluble shaft, afriction disk carried by the shaft, a drum slidably mounted and adaptedto move longitudinally of the shaft, said drum having a portion arrangedto engage the friction disk, a hydrostatic press having a movableportion arranged to support the drum and to move the latter, theinterior of the said hydrostatic press being lined with a resilientex'pansible material, and a tube extending laterally from the side ofthe press opposite the movable portion. a v

10. In an automatic controller for flying machines, a revoluble shaft, afriction disk carried thereby, a hydrostatic press mountedconcentrically upon said shaft and having a portion movablelongitudinally of the latter,

a drum carried by said movable portion and having a part adapted toengage said friction disk, a piston for said hydrostatic press,

a magnet having an armature connected w th said piston,- a source ofcurrent for said magnet, and a barometric switch for closing .thecircuit between the source of current and the magnet.

11. In an automatic controller. for flying machines, a revoluble shaft,a friction disk carried thereby, a hydrostatic press mountedconcentrically upon said shaft and having a portion movablelongitudinally of the latter, a drum carried by said movable portion andhaving a part adapted to engage said friction disk, a piston for saidhydrostatic press, a magnet having an armature connected with saidpiston, a source of current for said magnet, and a' barometric switchadjustable for any altitude for closing the circuit between the sourceof current and the magnet when the flying machine deviates from the setaltitude.

12. In an automatic controller for flying machines, a revoluble shaft, afriction disk carried thereby, a hydrostatic press mount-edconcentrically upon said shaft and having a portion movablelongitudinally of the latter, a drum carried by said movable portion andhaving a part adapted to engage said friction disk, a piston for saidhydrostatic press, a magnet having an armature connected with saidpiston, a source of current for said magnet, and a compass switch forclosing the circuit between the source of current and the magnet.

13. In an automatic controller for flying machines, a revoluble shaft, afriction disk carried thereby, a hydrostatic press mountedconcentrically upon said shaft and having a portion movablelongitudinally of the latter, a drum carried by said movable portion andhaving a part adapted to engage said friction disk, a piston for saidhydrostatic press, a magnet having an armature connected with saidpiston, a source of current for said magnet, and a compass switchadjustable for any direction for closing the circuit between the sourceof current and the magnet when the flying machine is headed out of thegiven direction.

14. In an automatic controller for flying machines, a normallyhorizontal receptacle for liquid, the said receptacle of an oblong form,closed at one end and provided with an enlarged opening at the other; atelescoping member closing the enlarged opening of the receptacle; africtional power transmitting device bearing externally against the saidtelescoping member so as to prevent outward movement of the same and asufficient quantity of suitable liquid to fill the inclosed space of thereceptacle.

WILLIAM WV. SWAN. Witnesses:

(l'D. STERLING,

M. C. H. STERLING.

